Characterization on thermal properties of glass fiber and kevlar fiber with modified epoxy hybrid composites

Abstract

Scores of modern applications have the presence of composite materials. As such, scientists worldwide started considering fabrication of a new composite and attempting to have more applications using these materials. Fabricating composite materials newly has become the genuine considerations of scientific community worldwide and hence, serious attempts are continuously being taken in-order to improve the application of these materials. Due to this vast development and research in this field, conscious attempt has been made in this present work that studies the effect of nanoclay content with reference to structural and morphological behavior of epoxy composites. In this process, epoxy materials get reinforced with different particulate fractions of chosen nanoclay and investigations were carried out on the specimens. Composite laminate with varied layers of glass fiber and kevlar fiber and modified epoxy with 2 wt.% of Cloisite 30B and hardener are used, and strips are fabricated and tested for their mechanical properties. Also, sheets with 14 layers of glass without and with nanoclay and likewise sheets with 14 layers of kevlar without and with nanoclay were fabricated. The fabricated kevlar/glass fiber reinforced composites were subjected to various tests to evaluate the thermal properties. All specimens were prepared under the specifications of ASTM standard. Thermal testing of composites (glass transition temperature, thermo gravimetric analysis and dynamic mechanical analysis) has been conducted and the properties have been evaluated.

Keywords

• Epoxy
• Cloisite 30B
• Kevlar fiber
• Glass fiber
• Nanoclay
• Thermal properties